Gerenuk - ZooBorns Gerenuk June 17, 2013 This spring, the Phoenix Zoo welcomed two new members to its Gerenuk herd. The first calf, a female, was born in April while the second, a male, was born in late May. The calves and their moms are doing well. During the first weeks of their lives, baby Gerenuk spent most of their time hiding amongst the bush while their mothers feed close by. Gerenuk are a type of antelope found native to Africa. Their name, which means "giraffe-necked" in the Somali language, refers to their long necks and ability to stand straight up on their hind legs, which allow them to reach tall tree branches while grazing. Photo Credit: Pheonix Zoo Bizarre looking creatures that actually live on our planet : theCHIVE 1 Chinese Water Deer Chinese Water Deer have earned the nickname “Vampire Deer” for their prominent tusks, which are used in territorial battles. 2 Ankole-Watusi Ankole longhorns and their massive horns have survived in Africa for thousands of years.

Their horns are used in defense and cooling and can weigh up to 100 pounds each and reach 8 feet from tip to tip. 3 Panda Ant This fluffy creature with panda markings is actually a type of wingless wasp from South America. It has only been spotted a handful of times but it is known to have a potent sting. 4 Saiga Antelope The saiga is a critically endangered antelope that inhabits the Eurasian steppe, including Dzungaria and Mongolia. Its strange nose is extremely flexible and helps to filter out dust kicked up by the migrating herd. 5 6 Sarcastic Fringeheads While the name would have you think otherwise, these fish are far more vicious than they are sarcastic. Found in the waters off the West Coast of America, fringeheads can grow 12 inches long and have eerily large mouths, which they press up against each others to assert authority. 7 Blobfish Deep in the waters off the coast of Australia and Tasmania is the ‘unique’ blobfish. The flesh of a blobfish is a gelatinous mass that’s less dense than water, giving the fish its unique look, and allowing it to float above the seafloor without swimming.

8 Ring-tailed Cat Ring-tailed cats are a member of the raccoon family, native only to arid regions of North America. The ringtail is said to be so easy to domesticate that miners and settlers once kept them in their cabins as companions and vermin hunters, earning the name “miner’s cat.” 9 Red-Lipped Batfish Batfish are found in the waters around the Galapagos Islands, but are terrible swimmers. Instead, the fish have learned to walk the ocean floor on their fins. 10 Irrawaddy Dolphin Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia. These animals are known for their bulging forehead and short beak, giving them a far stranger appearance than other dolphins. Advertisement 12 Lowland Streaked Tenrec Found only in the rainforests of Madagascar, this strange creature is somewhat similar to a porcupine. The barbs on the animal’s back act as both a defensive measure and a complex communication system. The quills produce a faint chattering sound when vibrated and families learn to talk through this sound.

13 Frilled shark In the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans this prehistoric beast boasts 300 trident-shaped teeth, aligned in 25 rows to rip through any prey. Scientists also believe that the frilled shark breaks the record for gestation periods amongst sharks, taking three and a half years to give birth. 14 Enypniastes Enypniastes is a deep sea cucumber which leaves nothing to the imagination and lives at depths of up to 16,400 feet. The red area is the animal’s mouth. Around it are tentacles, which scoop up edible mud from the seafloor. From there, it enters the creatures gut. 15 Eastern Long-Necked Turtle These turtles with a rather literal name can be found throughout Australia. Their remarkable necks can reach the same length as their shells, or around 10 inches. Advertisement 16 Bergamasco Shepherd These herding dogs were bred for the freezing Alps and have evolved to possess thick dreaded coats. 17 Mantis Shrimp The colorful mantis shrimp spends most of its life tucked away in burrows and holes.

Ancient Assyrians referred to the creatures as “sea locustus”, while more recently they have been called “prawn killers” and “thumb splitters,” because of their extremely powerful claws. The shrimp is capable of breaking through aquariums by moving at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. 18 Gharials These 20 foot long lizards weigh in at 350 pounds and used to dominate all major river systems, where their long, thin jaws proved adept at hunting and eating fish. Overfishing by humans has seen these reptiles reduced to 2% of their former strength. 19 Chrysopelea (The Flying Snake) In what is many people’s worst nightmare, this serpent climbs trees and then jumps down. By flattening its body and flaring out its ribs, the snake can glide through the air. 20 Snub Nosed Monkey David Attenborough once remarked that these marvelous monkeys look like “elves” and others like “plastic surgery gone too far.” Found in Asia, at heights of up to 13,000 feet, these primates with a short stump of a nose are rarely spotted.

Personally, I think they look like the knight at the end of ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.’ He chose…poorly. 21 Japanese Spider Crab This arthropod can reach heights of 12 feet tall and weigh up to 42 pounds, all while moving like a spider. The crabs are only found in the waters off the island of Honshū. 22 Gerenuk Gerenuk comes from the Somali language and means “giraffe-necked.” To feed from taller branches, gerenuks will stand on their hind legs. 23 Pyura Chilensis (The Living Rock) It can be difficult to believe, but these “rocks” are living, breathing organisms. Their appearance allows them to blend into Chilean beaches and avoid predators. Interestingly, these creatures have both male and female organs and can breed individually. 24 25 Goblin Shark The terrifying goblin shark measures between 8 and 13 feet and was first discovered in 1898. Referred to as a ‘living fossil,’ these terrifying animals are the only surviving member of a 125 million year-old family.

Advertisement 26 Bearded Vulture These beautiful birds inhabit Everest, the Himalayas and other mountainous regions in Europe and Asia. They were nearly eradicated because people used to fear that bearded vultures would attack lambs and children. There are now only estimated to be 10,000 left. 27 Surinam Toad Native to South America, the leaf-like appearance of the surinam is a natural defense against predators. The toads have a unique breeding method, where the male plants fertilized eggs into the back of the female who carries them until they emerge from pockets in her skin. 28 Glaucus Atlanticus Called the “blue dragon”, this fantastical creature is actually a one inch long sea slug. Commonly found off the East and South Coast of South Africa and Australia, divers should beware the powerful sting of this beast. 29 Leaf-Tailed Gecko The leaf-tailed gecko is a master of disguise found in Madagascar. With a leaf-shaped tail, it can blend into dense jungle.

30 Dumbo Octopus The ear-like fins of this octopus have earned it the name “Dumbo.” The octopus lives at extreme depths of 10,000 to 11,000 feet, searching for worms and other crustaceans at the seafloor. Advertisement 32 Gobi Jerboa The Gobi Jerboa is a species of rodents found in China and Mongolia. Jerboas have kangaroo-like hind legs which make the creature an amazing runner and jumper. Along with disproportionately large ears and tails, which enhance hearing and balance. 33 Yeti Crab Only recently discovered in 2005, not much is known about this hairy crustacean found in the South Pacific Ocean except that it is quite creepy looking. 34 Pacu Fish The Pacu Fish, native to South America, is nicknamed the “ball cutter” by local male fishermen, who fear swimming in the water because of the animals human-like smile. 35 Star-Nosed Mole Native to North America are these strange moles with alien-like tentacles on their noses. Living most of their lives underground, these animals are a rare sight to humans as well as mostly blind.

Their tentacles give them an extremely good sense of touch and can also detect the minute electrical fields given off by their prey. Advertisement 36 Aye-aye The aye-aye is a nocturnal lemur native only to Madagascar. The creature has rodent-like teeth which it uses to chew small holes into trees and then uses its narrow fingers to pull grubs out. 22 Animals You Didn't Know Exist LIFE We learn all about the common animals when we're young: dogs, cats, cows, horses, elephants, and on and on. But there are dozens of animals out there that you don't know about. Not only do you not know about them, but they're incredibly unique and some are even incredibly adorable. Just take #19 for example. I want one, no matter how illegal that may be. In no particular order, here are 22 of the most unknown animals that we thought you would be interested in. Check it out. 1. The Dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. The dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans which occasionally split up into small packs to hunt.

It primarily preys on medium-sized ungulates, which it hunts by tiring them out in long chases, and kills by disemboweling them. Though fearful of humans, dhole packs are bold enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, water buffalo, and even tigers. imgur 2. Babirusa, meaning "Hog-deer", are members of the pig family found in Wallacea, or specifically the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru. If a babirusa does not grind its tusks (achievable through regular activity), they will eventually keep growing so as to penetrate the animal's own skull. imgur 3. The pink fairy armadillo is approximately 3.5-4.5 inches long, excluding the tail, and is pale rose or pink in color. It has the ability to bury itself completely in a matter of seconds if frightened. It is a nocturnal animal and it burrows small holes near ant colonies in dry soil, and feeds mainly on ants and ant larvae near its burrow. It uses large front claws to agitate the sand, allowing it to almost swim through the ground like it is water.

It is torpedo-shaped, and has a shielded head and back. imgur 4. The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. It has semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree. imgur imgur 5. The gerenuk, also known as the Waller's gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in dry thorn bush scrub and desert in Eastern Africa. The word gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning "giraffe-necked". Gerenuks have a relatively small head for their body, but their eyes and ears are proportionately large. Gerenuks seldom graze but browse on prickly bushes and trees, such as acacias. They can reach higher branches and twigs than other gazelles and antelope by standing erect on their rear legs and stretching their elongated necks. imgur imgur 6. The Naked Mole Rat. This creature has a lot of characteristics that make it very important to human beings.

For one it is resistant to cancer. They also live up to 28 years, which is unheard of in mammals of its size. It seemingly does not age much in those 28 years either. It remains “young, healthy and fully fertile for almost all its days, which for an elderly animal is equivalent to an 80-year-old woman having the biological make-up of someone 50 years younger.” The naked mole rat is used in both cancer research and the study of aging. Not only making it a bizarre creature, but an incredibly important creature as well. imgur 7. The Irrawaddy dolphin is a species of oceanic dolphin found near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. Genetically, the Irrawaddy dolphin is closely related to the killer whale. imgur imgur 8. The markhor is a large species of wild goat that is found in northeastern Afghanistan and Pakistan. The species is classed by the IUCN as Endangered, as there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. The markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.

While chewing the cud, a foam-like substance comes out of its mouth which drops on the ground and dries. This foam-like substance is sought after by the local people, who believe it is useful in extracting snake poison from snake bitten wounds.9 imgur imgur 9. Also known as the Kiwaidae, this crab is a type of marine decapod living at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The animals are commonly referred to as "yeti crabs" because of their claws and legs, which are white and appear to be furry like the mythical yeti imgur 10. Snub-nosed monkeys live in various parts of Asia and get their name from the short stump of a nose on their round face. Snub-nosed monkeys inhabit mountain forests, in the winter moving into deeply secluded regions. They spend the majority of their life in the trees and live together in very large groups of up to 600 members. They have a large vocal repertoire, calling sometimes solo while at other times together in choir-like fashion. imgur 11. The Maned Wolf is the largest canid in South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur.

This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees throughout South America. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids and it's long legs are most likely an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. imgur imgur 12. The southern right whale dolphin is a small and slender species of mammal found in cool waters of the southern hemisphere. They are fast active swimmers and have no visible teeth and no dorsal fin. They are very graceful and often move by leaping out of the water continuously imgur 13. Southern Red Muntjac. Found in south Asia, it has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair and is omnivorous, feeding on grass, fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small animals. It sometimes even displays scavenging behavior, feeding on carrion. It gives calls similar to barking, usually upon sensing a predator. Males are extremely territorial and—despite their diminutive size—can be quite fierce. They will fight each other for territory using their antlers or their tusk-like upper canine teeth, and can even defend themselves against certain predators such as dogs.

imgur imgur 14. It is a species of treehopper called Cyphonia Clavata that literally has an ant growing out of its head. Well not literally, the ant-like thing on its head is an appendage that hides the treehopper’s actual body from predators. imgur 15. Also known as The Sunda flying lemur, the Sunda Colugo is not actually a lemur and does not fly. Instead, it glides as it leaps among trees. It is strictly arboreal, is active at night, and feeds on soft plant parts such as young leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits. The Sunda Coluga can be found throughout Southeast Asia in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore imgur 16. The Tufted Deer is a small species of deer characterized by the prominent tuft of black hair on its forehead. It is a close relative of the muntjac, living somewhat further north over a wide area of central China. It is a timid animal, mainly solitary or found in pairs and prefers places with good cover, where it is well camouflaged. imgur 17.

Lampreys are a type of jawless fish that live mostly in coastal and fresh waters whose adults are characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. They attach themselves to fish and suck their blood. Lampreys have been around for nearly 300 millions years and their body structure has remained relatively unchanged. imgur 18. The Raccoon Dog, or Tanuki, is a canid indigenous to East Asia. The raccoon dog is named for its resemblance to the raccoon, to which it is not closely related. They are very good climbers and regularly climb trees. imgur imgur 19. The Patagonian Mara is a relatively large rodent found in parts of Argentina. This herbivorous, somewhat rabbit-like animal has distinctive long ears and long limbs and its hind limbs are longer and more muscular than its forelimbs. imgur 20. The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is found in forests and woodlands throughout most of the Amazon basin. They are about 6 1/2 inches in length and like to dart out from branches to catch flying insects or pluck them from leaves.

They build very large nests (sometimes up to 6 feet long) on a branches near water. The nest hangs over the water which makes it hard for predators to reach. imgur imgur 21. The zebra duiker is a small antelope found in Ivory Coast and other parts of Africa. They have gold or red-brown coats with distinctive zebra-like stripes (hence the name) Their prong-like horns are about 4.5 cm long in males, and half that in females. They live in lowland rainforests and mostly eat leaves and fruit. imgur 22. The star-nosed mole is a small mole found in wet low areas of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It is easily identified by the 11 pairs of pink fleshy appendages ringing its snout, which is used as a touch organ with more than 25,000 minute sensory receptors, known as Eimer's organs, with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around. imgur The gerenuk and the raccoon dog are welcome in my house any time, but the star-nose mole can go away. Not welcome. Share these awesome, unique, barely known animals with others.

Spread the knowledge. Need more ViralNova in your life? Sign up for our newsletter today! Email Address 10 Rare Animals With Bizarre Adaptations - Listverse 10 Rare Animals With Bizarre Adaptations Andrew Handley June 14, 2013 Nature, as the saying goes, finds a way to survive. No matter what adverse conditions may threaten the survival of a creature, individual species will eventually adapt to better survive in their environment—it’s either that, or die. Every animal on this planet has had to grow and change over the course of millennia to become what it is today. And sometimes, that change manifests in truly bizarre ways. These ten rare animals are fantastic examples of the inherent adaptability that is present in all creatures, even if the end result is something completely unexpected. 10 Maned Wolf The maned wolf, or Chrysocyon brachyurus, is a member of the canid family, which includes dogs wolves, and foxes. With its reddish fur and erect ears, the maned wolf looks a lot like your typical red fox, with one glaring exception—it has long, delicate legs that would look more at home on an African gazelle than any kind of wolf.

And despite their name, maned wolves aren’t actually wolves—they’re only distantly related to any other canid species, and have managed to carve out their own unique niche in the animal kingdom. It’s believed that the maned wolf’s distinctive legs are an adaptation to help it survive in the grasslands of South America—in an endless sea of tall grass, the only defense is the ability to observe predators before they can reach you. Their ears are also adapted to the grasslands, allowing the maned wolf to pick up the ever-so-slight rustling sound as rodents—a staple of their diet—scurry through the grass. 9 Sunda Flying Lemur Like the flying squirrel, the Sunda flying lemur, or Galeopterus variegatus, has developed a unique way to move among the trees of its native environment—using folds of skin that stretch between its limbs, it glides from branch to branch. From birth to death, Sunda flying lemurs live their entire lives in the rainforest canopies throughout Southeast Asia. Their feet and limbs are well adapted for climbing, but are nearly useless for ground speed, meaning that falling to the ground is an almost certain recipe for death.

The skin membrane, called a patagium, is barely a millimeter thick and covers a surface area nearly six times the size of the rest of their body when fully spread. It’s also efficient—Sunda flying lemurs can glide over 320 feet (100 m) in one jump, and they pull it off without dropping more than 33 feet (10 m) during the flight. The name is misleading because the Sunda flying lemur is neither a lemur nor does it actually fly. It’s actually a type of animal called a colugo, and this one accounts for half of all the known colugos in the world. The other one is called the Philippine flying lemur. 8 Gerenuk Antelopes look pretty cool no matter what they’re doing, but the gerenuk manages to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the antelope species—literally. Also known as the Waller’s gazelle, gerenuks (Litocranius walleri) have enormously elongated necks and thin, spindly legs, which provide them with a unique feeding opportunity.

Rather than graze from grass on the ground like most antelopes, gerenuks stand upright on their hind legs to feed almost exclusively on the leaves and shoots of the acacia trees which dot the African savannas. It’s no real surprise that gerenuks have evolved to take advantage of such a completely different food source—there are 91 species of antelope in the world, and most of them live in Africa with the gerenuk, and with that kind of competition, someone needs to branch out into a different diet. Unfortunately, while their long, thin legs are perfect for giving them an extra boost to reach acacia leaves, they’re also incredibly fragile, and there have been several cases of gerenuks snapping their leg bones while running across the savannah. It just goes to show how specialization in one area can leave other aspects of life inherently lacking. 7 Irrawaddy Dolphin The Irrawaddy dolphin, or Orarella brevirostris, is a species of dolphin that lives primarily along the coastlines and estuaries of Southeast Asia, particularly the Bay of Bengal, off the eastern coastline of India.

Closely related to orca whales, Irrawaddy dolphins have adapted not through some physical trait, but rather through a rather unique behavior. Over the years, they have developed something of a partnership with local fisherman—they will drive schools of fish towards the fishermen’s nets, and in exchange they have their pick of the helpless fish before the nets are hauled in. This is an incredible example of nature adapting to human influence, and there is no other animal in the world (in the wild) that interacts this closely with their human counterparts. Even more incredible, there are several reports of court cases from the 19th century in which one fisherman would sue a rival fisherman because “his” Irrawaddy had helped the rival. 6 Tufted Deer Deer are high on most people’s lists of friendly animals. They’re timid, herbivorous, and maybe only pose a threat when they kick out in fear before bouncing off into the woods. Also, they rarely have fangs. The tufted deer of China, however, must have forgotten about that last part.

Named for the small tuft of black fur which usually grows along the crest of their heads, their most striking feature is nevertheless the large vampire fangs that grow out of their mouths. Like antlers, these fangs are used in mating fights between males. Tufted deer do have antlers, but they’re relatively small—so when they fight, they will knock each other around with their antlers first, but once one deer goes down, the second one will instantly go for the vulnerable spots with their fangs, which can protrude from their mouths as far as an inch (2.5 cm). As if this deer wasn’t already bizarre, they have also been seen feeding on carrion—dead animals—which is an extremely rare observation in the deer world, to say the least. So not only do they defeat their rivals with fangs, they also eat meat. 5 Cyphonia Clavata That’s not an ant perched on top of another bug—that’s a species of treehopper called the Cyphonia clavata, which has adapted to grow a realistic ant-shaped protrusion on its back.

We’ve featured treehoppers in the past, and there really is no limit to the variety of ways these incredible insects evolve to adapt in even the harshest of environments. In this example, the Cyphonia chose an insect notoriously difficult to prey upon—a local tree ant—and mimicked the structure of that ant, all the way down to the spikes that protrude from the ant’s back—which is why it’s so unappetizing to predators in the first place. This species of treehopper was first discovered in 1788 by Caspar Stroll, an entomologist from Germany, and can be found in the rainforests of Central America. 4 Southern Red Muntjac The Southern red muntjac, also known as the Indian muntjac, or Muntiacus muntjac, is a small deer native to South Asia. Muntjacs have several unique traits that aren’t found in other deer. Because of their most unique feature, they also come with a local name—barking deer. When the deer sense danger, they will make a sound that resembles a short, harsh bark (like a dog), alerting other deer in the herd to flee.

Depending on the danger, these spurts of barking can last longer than an hour at a time. They also differ from other deer species in other ways—like the tufted deer, muntjacs also have short canine fangs that they use during mating season. However, unlike tuft deer, muntjacs have larger antlers that grow in an incredibly unique shape on the tops of their heads. 3 Amazonian Royal Flycatcher Birds often feature large, ornate bunches of feathers which they use during mating rituals. The peacock is a great example of that behavior. However, a lesser known—yet equally impressive—example is the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher, Latin name Onychorhynchus coronatus coronatus. Relatively small, Amazonian Royal Flycatchers are about six and a half inches (16.5 cm) long and, as the name suggests, are found primarily in the Amazon Jungle of South America. However, while most bird species only have one sex that displays vibrant colors (usually the male), both sexes of Amazonian Royal Flycatcher display large feathered plumes on top of their heads. The female’s is usually yellow, and the male’s is a fiery orange red.

Curiously, Amazonian Royal Flycatchers only spread their feathered crest during mating season—and while being handled by humans. 2 Fish-Hook Ants Deep in the Virachey National Park of Cambodia lives a very unique species of ant. The fish-hook ant, or Polyrhachis bihamata, lives in colonies of millions of ants inside hollowed out logs on the forest floor. What’s so unusual about them is the double fish hook protrusions that grow from their backs. As would be expected, these are defensive mechanisms—they’re sharp enough to serve as a powerful predator deterrent. When they were documented by RAP scientists in 2007, one researcher found out first hand that the thorns were not only sharp enough to penetrate skin, they also “hooked” into a wound, latching the ant to whatever attacks it. That may not be good news for a solitary ant, but it serves the colony as a whole very well. But that’s not the only unusual thing about these ants—when their colony is threatened, they will swarm out thousands at a time and the ants will actually hook into each other to create massive clusters, which makes it nearly impossible for any predator to target an individual ant.

1 ET Salamander So far this newly discovered salamander species doesn’t have a name, but it’s been dubbed the “ET salamander” because of its resemblance to ET the Extraterrestrial from the 1982 film. Found in the rainforests of Ecuador, this salamander has one truly incredible adaptation—it has no lungs. Rather, it “breathes” through its skin, absorbing oxygen from the air around it. The researchers at Conservation International described it as “remarkably ugly,” which is definitely an apt description of the tiny amphibian. So far, we still don’t know much about the salamander, and more expeditions are being planned to explore the unique biosphere of the Ecuadorian rainforest. Ballerinas of the Bush: Gerenuks - Thomson Safaris Ballerinas of the Bush: Gerenuks Most of us have probably seen Fantasia, or at the very least, a clip of the hippos twirling around in tutus and nearly overwhelming their crocodilian escorts.

[youtube width=”853″ height=”480″] – But the real prima ballerinas in Africa aren’t pirouetting through the rivers and ponds, they’re traipsing daintily across the plains, graceful necks and long, whippet-thin legs extended in a sort of antelope arabesque. They’re gerenuks! A Gerenuk in fifth position. “Lightmatter gerenuk” by By Aaron Logan – from Licensed under CC BY 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons – #mediaviewer/File:Lightmatter_gerenuk.jpg – If you haven’t heard of these bush ballerinas, it’s not only because gerenuks (a name that derives from Somali, and means, aptly, “giraffe neck”) are a rare sighting on safari; it’s because of the gerenuk’s notoriously humble nature. Biologists have noted their unfailing willingness to help other gerenuks in need, and in African folklore, the gerenuk is regularly referred to as the “Queen of Humbleness.” Basically, they’re probably not launching too many personal PR campaigns.

But if you are lucky enough to spot one, you’ll be glad you did; when the gerenuk feeds, it rears up on its spindly hind legs, stretching its already long neck further into the branches to reach the most tender leaves, shoots, and fruits, looking for all the world like a very elongated dancer en pointe. Feeding requires grace…and some seriously good balance! “Gerenuks in Samburu” by frederic.salein – originally posted to Flickr as Gerenuks in Samburu. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons – #mediaviewer/File:Gerenuks_in_Samburu.jpg – As timid as they are delicate, gerenuks run away at high speeds when threatened. Often, though, they instead choose to stand very still behind a tree or bush, then slowly tiptoe away, heads lowered. …which you’d be forgiven for mistaking for a scene from a new, African-themed version of Swan Lake. The giraffe’s neck: icon of evolution or icon of creation? - CMI Mobile The giraffe’s neck: icon of evolution or icon of creation?

Photo courtesy Wildlife Pictures Online The long neck of the giraffe continues to be misrepresented as an icon of evolution. Discover recently alluded to the standard evolutionary explanation for the origin of the giraffe’s neck: By Darwin’s reasoning, giraffes have long necks because longer-necked giraffes can reach more leaves, thrive, produce more offspring, and so increase the proportion of long-neck giraffes. 1 Darwin himself wrote ‘… it seems to me almost certain that an ordinary hoofed quadruped might be converted into a giraffe.’ 2 He speculated that four-legged animals with longer and longer necks would be capable of reaching higher leaves and vegetation. Thus, during droughts, they would be more likely to survive and pass on this characteristic, than those with shorter necks. Over time, a creature that was not a giraffe would evolve into a giraffe with an extraordinarily long neck. Superficially, it sounds logical. However, as with many evolutionary explanations, the hard scientific data reveals a far different story. The fossil, genetic, physiological, observational and logical evidence actually provides much stronger support for creation, not evolution.

Fossil Evidence If the giraffe’s neck elongated over long periods of time, then we should see evidence of this in the fossil record, with numerous transitional forms progressively getting longer. However, that is not what the fossil evidence shows. There are short-necked fossil quadrupeds, including some, like the living okapi, which have features in common with giraffes. However, when we see fossils of Giraffa, there are no short, intermediate and long-necked forms, let alone showing a progression. In other words, the fossil record reveals that giraffes have always possessed long necks. Photo by Aaron Logan, LIGHTmatter The gerenuk (or giraffe gazelle) is a long-necked antelope that exclusively browses in trees. It may well be an expression of the neck length variation possible within an original ‘gazelle’ or similar kind. But it does not have the long legs or other specialized structures of a giraffe; these were simply not part of the genetic repertoire of its kind. It stands on its hind legs to reach arboreal vegetation. A giraffe is much more than just a ‘long-necked antelope’.

In addition, there are well-preserved giraffe footprints next to the fully human footprints in Laetoli, Tanzania dated at around 3.5 million years old on the evolutionary time scale. The shape and depth of these footprints strongly suggest that these ancient giraffes were virtually identical in height, weight and stride length to those living today 3 . Genetic and Physiological Evidence Many are unaware that Darwin’s book actually suggested that use and disuse of body parts was somehow inherited. In other words, giraffes that stretched their necks further were more likely to pass ‘long-neckedness’ on to their offspring. That notion has been thoroughly discredited, of course. Use and disuse does not affect the genetic program that is passed on to offspring. Today’s ‘neo’-Darwinist believes, instead, that genetic mutations—i.e. accidental copying errors—were responsible for some giraffes having longer necks, which were then selected for, i.e. they were the ones more likely to survive the droughts mentioned earlier. Mutations, such as the one causing achondroplastic dwarfism in humans, can dramatically alter limb proportions.

It is conceivable that a mutation could cause an antelope-like creature to have a slightly longer neck. However, such a mutation would have no effect on the length of the legs. These are under separate genetic control. Any dramatic mutational increase in neck length would also cause severe health hazards. A multitude of precisely fine-tuned anatomical and physiological mechanisms would have to simultaneously accompany the skeletal changes. Giraffes were created with specialized valves in their neck and head to protect them from massive fluctuations in blood pressure while lifting or lowering their heads. Without these vital supporting structures already in place, the giraffe would rupture blood vessels in the brain or in the retina while lowering its head to drink. As a result, any stepwise evolution of the giraffe neck is physiologically implausible. A giraffe is in any case much more than a long-legged antelope (See box re the gerenuk). Observational and Logical Evidence If giraffe survival depended on being able to reach higher and higher leaves during a drought, then giraffes would have died out a long time ago with the death of the [shorter] females and young giraffes. During droughts, water is much more important than food.

Animals can survive long periods of time without food, but not without water. A bigger, taller giraffe would require much more water than a smaller, shorter giraffe. Therefore, it is actually more likely that the taller giraffes would die from dehydration. In reality, a creature’s ability to survive droughts and other harsh environmental conditions is determined by a number of other factors besides height and size. Also, female giraffes can be as much as two feet shorter than male giraffes. In addition, young giraffes are much shorter than fully mature ones. If giraffe survival depended on being able to reach higher and higher leaves during a drought, then giraffes would have died out a long time ago with the death of the females and young giraffes. Also, giraffes live with shorter tree browsers such as gazelles, impalas, elands and gerenuks. All of these animals have successfully survived periods of drought with much shorter necks. Icon of Creation The neck of the giraffe should be considered an icon of creation. The Bible tells us that all land animals (including giraffes) were created fully formed, to reproduce after their own ‘kind’ on day six of creation.

Giraffes have always had long necks, and they have always been giraffes. Related articles

Question: What sort of creature is a gerenuk?
Answer: AN ANTELOPE